S.A.'s cold may have killed a man

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SAN ANTONIO — A man believed to be homeless was found dead Tuesday morning underneath a Northwest Side overpass, and the cold weather may have played a part.

Police received a call about 10:20 a.m. concerning a possible injured or sick person lying on the side of Interstate 10 West as it goes underneath West Woodlawn Avenue.

“It looks like the man tried to stick it out through the night and he may have succumbed to the elements,” Police Officer Roger Zuniga said.

The medical examiner's office will determine if weather definitely played a part. Zuniga said there was no evidence of foul play. When asked if police found indications of drug use, Zuniga said there was nothing related to “criminal activity” around the man's body.

He said there was at least one blanket where the man slept. He likely was in his 40s, Zuniga said. The department has not had any similar calls since the cold front began, he added.

The freezing temperatures are likely done for the week but officials will continue to watch out for those who may need shelter. Haven for Hope and the Salvation Army have sent teams to areas the homeless most often congregate. The intersection where the man was found is a popular spot for homeless people.

Officials have urged the homeless to seek shelter during what has been one of the most frigid cold fronts to sweep through the nation in decades.

Overnight temperatures in San Antonio dipped below freezing and at 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, hit a low of 23 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

Forecaster Pat McDonald said the Alamo City temperatures didn't break any records, which for Jan. 7 stands at 14 degrees in 1886.

Emergency Management Coordinator Lawrence Trevino said that while there could be many contributing factors to a hypothermia-related death, those most vulnerable include the very young, elderly and anyone without shelter for long periods of time. Additional sickness, like flu, or drinking and using drugs also can make people more susceptible.

But first responders can't force people to seek shelter, Trevino added. Sometimes those who end up with symptoms don't realize what is happening, he said.

“You start getting delusional and numb; you lose awareness, blood pressure drops, heart rate drops, breathing slows,” Trevino said, adding first responders will request people seek shelter at least for one or two days “when the temperatures are extreme.”

Most of the time, offers of a ride to a shelter are rebuffed, Salvation Army spokesman Brad Mayhar said.

“The last time we (offered rides), out of maybe 50 homeless people, around five actually did get in the van,” Mayhar said earlier this week.

Forecasters expected the arctic blast to move out of the area Tuesday.

Patchy fog and drizzle were expected after midnight Tuesday. Temperatures are expected to climb all week, possibly reaching the lower 70s on Friday. There will be a slight chance of rain in the region for the rest of the week.